Radiological marker board with movable indicators

Abstract

A system is disclosed for locating positions in the vasculature of a human patient for the purpose of rendering treatment or making a diagnosis therein during a catheterization procedure, such as a procedure to implant an intraluminal arterial graft. The system includes a board which rests under the patient during the procedure which has two markers that can be detected under fluoroscopy. The markers can be moved backwards and forwards along a track in the board to pinpoint various locations in the blood vessel of interest, for example, the points of attachment for the ends of an arterial graft. One of the markers also can be pivoted about the track to represent the angle at which a particular blood vessel is disposed in the patient. The markers can be locked into position with brakes for the duration of the procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for use in radiography and fluoroscopy, the apparatus comprising: a body having a recessed region;   marker means rotatably disposed in the recessed region of said body, said marker means having radiopaque material; and   control means disposed in the recessed region of said body and operably connected to said marker means for moving and rotating said marker means within said body.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: second marker means disposed in the recessed region of said body, said second marker means having radiopaque material; and   second control means disposed in the recessed region of said body and operably connected to said second marker means for moving said marker means within said body.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus for locating a position in the vasculature of a patient, the apparatus comprising: a non-radiopaque body;   a first radiopaque marker disposed in said body;   a second radiopaque marker rotatably disposed in the said body;   a first positioner means for moving said first marker relative to said second marker; and   a second positioner means for moving and rotating said second marker relative to said first marker, said second positioner means adapted to rotate said second marker relative to said first marker independently of moving said second marker relative to said first marker.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a first brake for fixing said first marker stationary relative to said second marker. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second brake for holding said second marker stationary relative to said first marker. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said body includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein said first marker, said first positioner means, said second marker and said second positioner means are disposed within at least one recessed region within the first layer of said body, and said second layer is configured to cover the recessed region of the first layer of said body. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means connected to said first positioner means, said second positioner means, said first brake and said second brake for manipulating each of said positioner means and said brakes. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means connected to said first marker for biasing said first marker from movement by said first positioner means. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means connected to said second marker for biasing said second marker from movement by said second positioner. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus configured to be positioned beneath the body of a patient for use with a catheter to assist in locating a position in the vasculature of a patient for the purpose of making a diagnosis or rendering treatment therein, the apparatus comprising: a board having a first layer and a second layer disposed over the first layer, the first layer having a track configured therein;   a marker at least partially formed of a radiopaque material, said marker being configured to move axially along the track of the first layer of said board; and   a control cable having a first end attached to said marker for moving said marker along the track of the first layer of said board, said control cable having a second end,   wherein the second layer of said board is configured to prevent said marker and said control cable from contacting a patient.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising braking means for locking said control cable and said marker into a desired position. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said braking means comprises a brake shoe configured to contact said control cable, a brake actuator configured to contact the brake shoe, a brake cable having a first end attached to the brake actuator and having a second end, wherein moving the brake cable causes the brake actuator to move the brake shoe into contact with said control cable and to fix the control cable in place. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising manipulating means connected to the second end of said control cable for causing movement of said marker along the track of the first layer of said board and connected to said braking means for actuating said braking means. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said manipulating means is connected to said control cable and said braking means exterior to said board. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the manipulating means further comprises a control box configured to receive the second end of said control cable and said braking means, wherein the control cable and braking means may be manipulated from the control box. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control cable is formed from stainless steel. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control cable is formed from an non-radiopaque material. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising; a second marker at least partially formed of a radiopaque material, said second marker having a guide configured to move along the track of the first layer of said board, said second marker being pivotable about the guide;   a second control cable having a first end attached to said second marker and having a second end; and   a third control cable having a first end attached to said second marker and having a second end,   wherein said second control cable and said third control cable are attached to said second marker for moving the second marker along the track in an axial direction and for pivoting said second marker about the guide.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a constant force spring attached to said marker, wherein said constant force spring biases said marker from the movement of said control cable. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus for use in fluoroscopy and configured to be positioned beneath the body of a patient, the apparatus comprising: a board having a first layer and a second layer disposed over the first layer, the first layer having a track configured therein;   a first marker including radiopaque material, said first marker being configured to move axially along the track of the first layer of said board;   a second marker including radiopaque material, said second marker being configured to move axially along and rotate about the track of the first layer of said board;   a first control cable having a first end attached to said first marker for moving said first marker along the track of the first layer of said board;   a second control cable having a first end attached to said second marker for moving and rotating said second marker along the track of the first layer of said board;   a third control cable having a first end attached to said second marker for moving and rotating said second marker along the track of the first layer of said board;   first braking means for locking said first control cable and said first marker into a desired position; and   second braking means for locking said second control cable, said third control cable and said second marker into a desired position,   wherein the second layer of said board is configured to prevent said markers and said control cables from contacting a patient.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a first constant force spring attached to said first marker, wherein said first constant force spring biases said first marker from the movement of said first control cable, and a second constant force spring attached to said second marker, wherein said second constant force spring biases said second marker from the movement of said second control cable and said third control cable.